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Poverty and wealth

European Comparisons

Migration

Public Services

Politics

Right-wing populism

Elections

Economy and Finance

European comparisons

Electoral systems in the Member States of the European Union

May 2018, Werner T. Bauer, 102 pages

The study provides a so far unique compact overview of constitutions, forms of states and governments, parliaments, regional structures and above all electoral systems in the 27 Member States of the EU. As a precursor, it depicts the fundamental differences as well as the advantages and disadvantages of majority and proportional representation rights. Following this, it portrays the individual Member States, their national institutions and electoral systems. And it concludes with a comparing analysis of state and electoral systems. Due to the fact that this study also includes the most significant key figures of the states as well as listing the current heads of state and governments, it is an indispensable reference work for anybody with an interest in politics.

report, in German (pdf)

Decent work in Europe

January 2020, Mag.a Susanne Halmer, BA, Selma Kaya, BA, 79 pages

For the second time, we are examining working conditions in Europe. In comparison to the previous study from 2017, we have expanded our measuring instrument. On the basis of 35 indicators in the categories „labor market policy“, „social security“, „social partnership“, „adequate working hours“, „adequate wages“, „gender equality“, „security at the workplace“ and „education and training“, we try to make decent working conditions in 29 European countries measurable. Achievements regarding qualitative work are shown as well as problem areas where political intervention is required.

report, in German (pdf)

Subsidized Housing- Comparing Madrid, Munich, Paris, Prague and Warsaw

August 2018, Mag. Bela Hollos, 20 pages

The „Vienna Model of Housing Policy“ serves as an example for many cities worldwide. But stagnation is regression and there is always room for improvement. This study compares five European metropolitan cities in terms of their funding policies and examines how successful they are based on different criteria.

report, in German (pdf)

Decent work in Europe - An index

October 2017, Mag.a Susanne Halmer BA, Selma Kaya BA, 33 pages

Since 1999, the Decent Work Agenda of the International Labor Organization (ILO) has been an important strategy for development and the fight against poverty. The concept of decent work is primarily aimed at providing people with a productive, safe and fairly paid work that allows them to live a good life. Based on these ILO considerations, what “decent work” could be, the ÖGPP has created an index with twenty indicators of the categories “labor market policy”, “social security”, “representation” and “income inequality”. It is intended to make the working conditions in different European countries comparable, to show achievements with regard to qualitative work, but also to point to problems and to show need for political action.

report, in German (pdf)

The rights of homosexuals in a Europe-wide comparison

July 2017, Werner T. Bauer, 26 pages

The treatment of homosexuals and their legal status are important indicators for the social constitution of a country. The study provides an overview of the most important subject areas in a Europe-wide comparison. Concerning this aspect, Austria does not assume a top position within Europe. Admittedly, on the issue of social acceptance of homosexuality, Austria is above EU average and is therefore regarded as a “tolerant country”. However, in respect of equality of homosexual partnerships, Austria, together with several East European states, where homophobia and discrimination are widespread, was for a long time positioned at the tail end. Only in November 2009, following long debates, the Great Coalition agreed to allow registered partnerships. Since then, homosexual couples in civil partnerships are treated equal to heterosexual married couples in respect of civil, labour, aliens and pensions as well as tax law. It was the Constitutional Court that made politics come around adoption rights and in-vitro fertilization for same sex couples. Austria is therewith the only country in Europe, that grants same sex couples the same reproductive rights as heterosexual couples without introducing marriage equality.

report, in German (pdf)

Guaranteed minimum resources in the EU

July 2017, Elisabeth Kleinlerchner, BA, Robert Pelikan, BA, 68 pages

The needs-oriented guaranteed minimum resources were established as social benefit system in Austria. What social benefit systems do other EU countries have? The ÖGPP has compared seven selected states resp. systems (Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Spain) with Austria. Naturally, due to their different welfare state traditions, none of these systems are the same; however, they have one common goal - to get people in the labour market.

report, in German (pdf)

Poverty in the European Union 2014 - Countries, Regions, Cities

October 2016, Mag.a Susanne Halmer, BA, 105 Pages

At the current time (2014), around 83,5 million people (17%) in the European Union are at risk of poverty. A quarter of EU citizens are at risk of poverty and exclusion. Despite the “Strategy 2020” formulated by the EU in order to free 20 million people from risk of poverty, it remains high in the EU.

report, in German (pdf)

Poverty in the European Union 2013 - Countries, Regions, Cities

October 2015, Mag.a Susanne Halmer, BA, 106 Pages

At the current time (2013), around 83,5 million people in the European Union are at risk of poverty. In 2010, it was 80 million EU citizens. One of the 5 main goals of the EU’s “Europe 2020 Strategy”, was the reduction of poverty by 20 million people until the year 2020. Current trends cast doubts about the achievement of this objective, since poverty is still a massive problem. And this is not only the case in emerging nations, but also in economically established countries. While Austria is below the average in a European comparison, it is still not amongst the leading group when it comes to poverty reduction. This means that even in one of the world’s richest countries there is a serious poverty issue.

report, in German (pdf)

Poverty in the European Union

October 2012, Susanne Halmer, 96 pages

80 million people living in the European Union are currently at risk of poverty. The Europe 2020 Strategy defines the reduction of poverty by 20 million by 2020 as one of its core targets. How close resp. how far remote the realisation of this target is, is shown in an overview of the most recent at-risk-of-poverty quotas according to countries, regions and cities. This illustrates that poverty is still a massive problem and a great affliction in particular to certain demographic groups. In the EU for example, every second unemployed person, every third single-parent household and every fifth child (up to 18 years) is at risk of poverty. The situation for risk groups in individual countries is far more dramatic. The sometimes widely differing risk-of-poverty quotas reflect the differences of the Member States in respect of social benefits, pension systems and economic power. Compared to other European countries, Austria, even if she is below average, is not part of the leading group. This means that even one of the world’s richest countries has a serious poverty problem.

report, in German (pdf)

The future of cities - future-oriented programmes of major European cities and their relevance for Vienna

May 2006, Werner T. Bauer, Andrea Höferl, Michael Huber, 87 pages

The international competition of cities to attract business, research institutions or scientists has become much fiercer. Globalisation also forced cities to think outside the box. The ÖGPP study has carefully examined urban development and future-oriented programmes of 32 European major cities and their relevance for Vienna. The result: compared to other European cities, Vienna is well positioned for example in respect of healthcare, social issues, environment, transport, economy, housing, participation and security. However, there are also some developments and cities, which have to be observed carefully to ensure that Vienna does not lose ground in international competition.

report, in German (pdf)

What we can learn from others - examples of successful education policy from various EU countries, part 1

Part 1: Pre-school, primary and secondary school system: June 2005, Dr. Werner T. Bauer, 10 pages

With this work, the “Austrian Society for Policy Consultation and Development” (ÖGPP) wants to make an issue-oriented contribution to the public dialogue on changes to the Austrian education system. We have examined the EU Member States in accordance with interesting examples of successful education work (“best practices”), which is both worth of being discussed and copied and presented our findings in a concise and comprehensive manner. The work reaches from pre-school to university level and is published in two parts. This is the first part, which covers the pre-school sector up to the upper secondary level. The second part deals with the university sector.

report, in German (pdf)

What we can learn from others - examples of successful education policy from various EU countries, part 2

Part 2: University education: November 2006, Luise Wernisch, with the cooperation of Werner T. Bauer and Iris Simsa, 32 pages

Over the past years, the situation at universities in Austria has dramatically changed: their legal-organisational environment has been reorganised, university tuition fees and various access restrictions have been introduced. Many of Austria’s universities perform poorly in international rankings and continue to lose ground. The present examination tries to depict what other universities do better. Research and teachings are examined as is university funding, possible university tuition fees and access policy. It is the objective of the comparison to show alternatives to give those responsible for education policy in Austria the opportunity to learn from others who do it better. The examination supplements a first part, which was already published in summer 2005 and which deals with the pre-school sector up to the upper secondary level.

report, in German (pdf)

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